A key to the identification of some small boreal mammals of central Canada from guard hairs

Abstract

A key to the identification of common mammalian diet-items of Marten, Martes americana, from north-central Ontario is presented.Guard hairs from scats or stomach contents are used to identify 17 species of rodents, insectivores, mustelids and hare.Although developed for Marten in Ontario, the key will be of value to food studies of all small carnivores from boreal regions of central eastern Canada.